MBABANE:The United States is expelling South Africa’s ambassador to Washington, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Friday, accusing the envoy of hating the country and President Donald Trump, IOL reported on Saturday.
“South Africa's Ambassador to the United States is no longer welcome in our great country," Rubio posted on X.
Ebrahim Rasool is "a race-baiting politician who hates America and hates @POTUS," he said, referring to Trump by his White House X account handle.
“We have nothing to discuss with him and so he is considered PERSONA NON GRATA."
It has been reported that, the expulsion of the Ambassador-a very rare move by the United States- is the latest development in rising tensions between Washington and Pretoria.
Trump, in February, froze US aid to South Africa, citing a law in the country that he alleges allows land to be seized from white farmers.
Last week, Trump further fueled tensions, saying South Africa's farmers were welcome to settle in the United States after repeating his accusations that the government was “confiscating” land from white people.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has labelled Ebrahim Rasool a race-baiting politician who hates President Donald Trump(pic: sourced: IOL).